If We Stayed Alive

A slightly unexpected seeming postscript to the original turn of the millennium career of the Minneapolis band, the 2023 12 Rods release was in self-admitted truth more of a formal presentation of demos from that run in new form by Ryan Olcott working solo. But If We Stayed Alive makes for an enjoyable listen for that reason, an extension of the group’s semi-shoegaze/semi-blissed out art indie rock impulses. Songs like “My Year (This Is Going To Be)” and “Comfortable Situation” simultaneously feel melancholic and summery, just so.